blaspheming the Holy Spirit?

So the Bible says that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is an unforgivable sin but it is vague on what exactly blaspheming the Holy Spirit is. What do you think would constitute blaspheming the Holy Spirit?

Denying Jesus' divinity means you're calling God a liar; that's blaspheming God's Spirit.

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come" (Matthew 12:22-32).

It's my understanding that would be attributing acts of the Holy Spirit to the devil

I did look it up on two sites that are pretty conservative in their answers with the same results

This blasphemy has to do with someone accusing Jesus Christ of being demon-possessed instead of Spirit-filled. As a result, this particular incidence of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be duplicated today. Jesus Christ is not on earth—He is seated at the right hand of God. No one can witness Jesus Christ performing a miracle and then attribute that power to Satan instead of the Spirit. The closest example today would be attributing the miracle of a redeemed person’s changed life to Satan’s power rather than to the effects of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
from GOTQUESTIONS

and this one

By simply looking at the context, it becomes apparent that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is saying that Jesus did His miracles by the power of the devil. This is unforgivable. But why? We can find a clue by looking at the point when Jesus began His ministry.

from CARM

If you are concerned with it. You aren't doing it.

Kefa

I wonder if you can blaspheme the Holy Spirit by accident and still be condemned.

Consider this analogy: One might mistake a very expensive lamp to be any ordinary lamp because of its looks. Until he realizes that the oil that lights this lamp is no ordinary oil and is unique in its qualities unlike any other oil. But if he denies the existence of such an oil no matter what, he will never be able to distinguish this lamp from any other ordinary lamp. This is why when Christ says, "...the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.", He is associating Himself with that Source. He looks like any ordinary man, but the power that He commands is no ordinary power. If one denies the existence of the Source, all hope is lost for him and that is why his sin is unforgivable, an unforgiving that he has brought upon himself by refusing to accept the existence of the Holy Spirit and thus erasing any chance of finding the Son. And in all honesty, what punishment is more grave that not recognizing the Son?!

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgiveable. For a sin to be unforgiveable means that once committed there is never again any opportunity of forgiveness. It is therefore no light matter to call a sin 'blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. It is the sin from which there is no come back.

The Scribes were only said to be 'in danger of it'. Clearly then it is not one particular act of sin. It is rather an attitude of heart and mind. What were they in danger of doing? They were in danger of so hardening their hearts against what Jesus revealed about Himself that they could no longer repent and believe.

A man who has committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit has a closed and hardened mind against the truth about Jesus to such an extent that it is impossible to renew him again to repentance. Thus even whilst alive he is eternally lost. And one thing about the condition that is important is that he can never know it, because he is too hardened in his heart to be aware of it.

The Apostle Paul and Hebrews does allude to such things that would fall under this blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and in each case they speak on those who deny the power thereof from the Spirit to continue to live in darkness (sinful ways).

Those also who contribute the works of devil to say they are from God, as is the case of those who preach a doctrine of allowing or turning the grace of God to allow lewdness to continue in peoples lives. Such preachers of false doctrine the bible says were marked from condemnation since the beginning of time.

Those who preach itching ears doctrines to draw people away from the truth would be blasphemying against the Holy Spirit who can only uphold God's truth and the Lord's teachings when He abides in us. He can not lead us astray from what the Lord has already taught as Apostle Paul clearly says and shows we can only build on His foundation, and not teach other then what the Lord brought or that is a false doctrine with no power to save !!!

God bless

This is an article about it and I lean toward this understanding of it. Attached link for copyright purposes.

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[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff, colspan: 5, align: center"] MATTHEW 12:31, "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shalt be forgiven unto men: but blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men."

LUKE 12:10; MATTHEW 12:24-31; MARK 3:22-30
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[TD="class: style1, bgcolor: #ffffff, colspan: 5, align: center"] The word "blaspheme" means "to speak evil of; defame; or revile." In context, Jesus is saying that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is attributing the working of the Holy Spirit to the devil. Many people in the Bible did this, including Saul, who became the Apostle Paul. However, we see in 1 Timothy 1:13, that Paul said he received mercy concerning his blaspnemy because he had done it "ignorantly in unbelief." Therefore, the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost Jesus is warning against must be willfully reviling the Holy Ghost with knowledge of what is being done.

This parallels Hebrews 6:4-6, where qualifications are placed on those who can fall away from grace. This passage indicates that only a mature Christian can commit such a thing. Likewise, with blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, rash statements spoken against the Holy Spirit in ignorance or unbelief by those who don't really know what they are doing can be forgiven.

From our human perspective, no clear line can be drawn as to when someone becomes accountable for blasphemies and has committed this unpardonable sin. We can be assured that God knows the hearts of all men and that He will judge righteously concerning this. However, God's Word does show us that when anyone becomes a "reprobate," they lose all conviction from God (Rom. 1:28).

Therefore, anyone who is convicted and repentant over having possibly blasphemed the Holy Ghost has not yet reached the place where it is unpardonable or they wouldn't care. Keep your heart tender and sensitive to Him. Listen to His voice speak to you through His Word today.

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http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=02e97ce2b8777d1b57103a1b4&id=1bf07382b5

Actually, it isn't vague at all. Here is the scripture that prompted the Lord's response:

"But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”

And Jesus said in response:

"And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Therefore, for a person to commit the same sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit as the Pharisees had, one would have to do the same thing, which would be to claim that Jesus was casting out demons by the prince of demons, Beelzebul and by doing so they were calling the Holy Spirit unclean by whom Jesus was casting them out.

Mark 3:30 - He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit"

To answer the question from another poster, no, we cannot accidently commit blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Read Hebrews 6...

Heb 6:4-8
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
KJV

These points here: "once enlightened, "tasted of the heavenly gift", "made partakers of the Holy Ghost", "tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come" are all factors involving one who has believed on Jesus Christ and had received the gift of The Holy Spirit.

So it's about accountability while having full knowledge and awareness, and without excuse.

If a believer after all that experience falls away from God, then that is like denying the direct proof of God's Salvation. That falling away would have to involve a 'direct' denial of all those things, turning to the evil ways of this world instead. It would have been better if those had never known those things, than to deny the direct proof of them given them from God.

I don't personally know any present believer on Christ in danger of doing that. I do know some that were believers which have turned away to the world, but I don't think they have completely rejected Christ, which would also be a requirement.

Likewise with the nations of spiritually blinded left after Christ's second coming, during His future reign with His elect, all... knees will bow to Him as Lord in that time, even those of the "synagogue of Satan" (Rev.3). All those in ignorance or were deceived in this world will bow to Him, and will then have direct knowledge and understanding Who He is. We know per Rev.20 that some... of those will still... reject The Father and The Son in that time, even after... they have direct proof. By that those have made their own choice to perish in the "lake of fire".

When one is in full knowledge, then they are in full accountability, and cannot claim ignorance or deception. Making a choice against Christ in that state means they have made their choice and will be in full accountability for it.

Depends on whether it came from unruly lips or an unruly heart

Look at the context. Some of the Pharisees were so evil and reprobate that they thought good deeds were evil. Any sin is forgivable; but a heart so hard that it calls good things evil is beyond repentance, and without repentance there is no forgiveness.

If a person fears they have blasphemed the holy spirit, it simply proves that they haven't, because they fear GOD and there is hope. The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom.

I've always extrapolated that idea from the scripture... If you don't believe in the power of the Holy Spirit you will not confess and repent - so in a way the unforgiveable sin is failing to ask for forgiveness!

I BELIEVE IT TELLS YOU in the gospel when they said JESUS cast out spirits in the name of Satan. You're in essence saying that the Holy Spirit is evil working for the devil. That's blasphemy of the HOLY SPIRIT. JESUS also says a house divided against itself will not stand.

blasphemes against the Holy Spirit

-it is blaspheme associated with attributing Jesus' works to that of demons.

Matthew 9
34But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

matthew 11
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous,
and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

matthew 12
24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils,
but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation;
and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?
therefore they shall be your judges.

28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods,
except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men:
but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him:
but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him,
neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt:
for the tree is known by his fruit.

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?
for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.


mark 3
28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men,
and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness,
but is in danger of eternal damnation:
30Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

luke 11
Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation;
and a house divided against a house falleth.

18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?
because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out?
therefore shall they be your judges.
20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

John 8
48Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan,
and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do
dishonour me.And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.


John 10
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

19There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
21Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil.
Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?


41And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle:
but all things that John spake of this man were true.

so none of the people you mention can ever repent and be saved? Sounds unscriptural to me

But the verse does not say they have a choice. It says it will happen. Besides I hardly think an error in that direction would be eternally unforgiveable.

The passages of scriptures I alluded to in my post was said about those who refuse to repent of their ways, and who continue to always deny the working power of the Holy Spirit.

Read Jude 1:4 as that scripture speaks clearly on such who twist the word of God to allow lewdness and how they were marked for condemnation long ago !!!

So not unscriptural at all as it is clearly in His word, keep reading and God bless.